Darwin Espinoza: Contradictions, Complications, and Inaccuracies in His Defense Against the Impeachment | Congress | Mochasaldos | Unnecessary accusations principle

Congressman Darwin Espinosa (Popular Action) fell into contradictions, complications and mistakes last Tuesday when its political group, Atlant Uncash, tried to deny that it was using public resources and Congress workers to reach the record of the regional movement.

In other reports, Espinoza confirmed that three parliamentary workers who registered “Punto Final” while collecting signatures in support of Atlant Uncash were suspended from their duties.

“In March, I asked to suspend the salary of a senior officer for 15 days. They indicate that they engaged in other activities during those days of suspension. That's why they do something that I can't explain while filming. What they told me was that they were activities outside of working hours, he said.

Espinoza showed a document requesting 15 days of “unpaid leave” for three of his workers: Juan Vidal Paroy, Kevin Haro Rodríguez and Wilfredo Valencia Sánchez. The document was dated March 6, and – as it read – the “retirement” would run from the following day.

However, the Congressional Transparency Unit revealed that none of those involved had their salaries cut that month.

Valencia received S/3,046 last March, the same amount he received for serving as parliamentary coordinator in January and February. The same happened to Harrow, who earned S/7,106 per month until March, without cuts; Vidal, S/ 7,208.

The other two involved, Hector Camacho Aguilar and Franco Mora Contreras, also received their full salaries in March.

“Punto Final” recorded them when they collected signatures in Áncash between March and April. And, according to the testimony of a former Espinoza employee, whose identity remains confidential, they traveled “for approximately 17 days, even up to a month” to get the signatures.

Last Tuesday, Espinoza said he had cleared his workers for “something like this.” At the insistence of the press, he stated that it was to undertake “certain acts which do not concern the office”.

However, he could not explain why he kept them in office.

“I have the document [de la suspensión]. “I suspended them because of some irregularities that I saw,” he insisted.

Link with Adelante Áncash

First, the congressman committed to “Punto Final”, he learned of the presence of Adelante Áncash through the media. “Through the press issues, I discovered that the Atlanta Uncash movement was born,” he said.

Later, when it was pointed out to him that the group belonged to his brother Renato Espinoza Vargas, ​​​​​​​he replied: “I have not spoken to my brothers for a long time. My family is political. […] I've always used that phrase, so if they use it elsewhere, it's probably a coincidence.

Espinoza addressed the issue again last Tuesday. This time he said: “The promoter is my brother, I have nothing to do with it. Also, he may run for re-election. [en el Congreso]”.

However, he introduced a bill last January that would have allowed Congressmen to stand as candidates in regional and municipal elections if they requested unpaid leave 120 days before the election. The proposal is before the Constitutional Commission.

Asked about the disciplinary action initiated by the Popular Action Party, the legislator said: “They have been expelling me since 2015. I am not going to resign.”

Reniec about access

Espinoza is accused of using access granted by Congress to Reniec's organization to verify the accuracy of data on people affiliated with his group.

First, he denied access to the computer for “Punto Final”. “I didn't stop there [en el despacho parlamentario], I don't have access. This is a surprise to me. “I don't have access to Renick, I don't get into Renick,” he said.

However, last Tuesday he tried another answer. As he said at the time, he was using Renick's method to improve the delivery of social assistance.

“In the years 2021, 2022, 2023, I and my office have personally undertaken different social activities. We provided blankets, school supplies, groceries. When we went and delivered, a man came out with five blankets in hand. […] That's why we wanted to break down who we're going to support because the winter campaign is coming up in the mountains. It is not distributed on the street, but door to door. “I want to know who they live and where they live, so we can identify them and then they won't complain,” he said.

Reniec told “Punto Final” that 1,851 consultations were made from the congressional account last March alone. And the number has crossed 1,150 so far this month.

He later revealed that he had suspended the accounts of a member of Congress and 70 users from various public and private organizations for misusing the information.

Asked about the body's statements, the congressman said: “What Renick confirmed was that there was a record of people within the consultations. Within these consultations, people are identified to provide social assistance.

Petiquiono

The congressman admitted that his parliamentary office requested 10,000 bonds from Congress, but denied using them to print membership cards for the Atlant Ancash political group.

“I understand that sometimes you ask for 5 thousand and they give you 2 thousand, you ask for 10 thousand and they give you four. We are demanding complete archives to carry out research in various municipalities,” he said.

“Punto Final” aired a video of a printer installed in the congressman's office being used to issue membership cards.

Regarding the video, the legislator indicated that an unidentified person had influenced and recorded the event, presumably to harm him. “The person who recorded the video and went to the printer is alone in the office. He has no partner there. The person who took the picture ordered it to be printed.

Finally, he pointed out that the prosecutor's office did not raid his parliamentary office last Tuesday, but instead “verified” its location. “There was no raid. Not true. Verification is done. said the lawyer. [Fue] You can check which is my office yesterday [lunes 15] “They wanted to raid Congressman Dorotio's office and they had a different address,” he said.

Imprisonment up to 12 years

According to state Attorney General Javier Pacheco, this is a “typical case” in which a congressman abuses his power to compel those under his control to carry out activities unrelated to parliament.

He pointed out that the possible offenses are concussion and usurpation. For the latter, the punishment ranges from 2 to 12 years in prison, he noted in a conversation with Channel N.

“The position of the Attorney General's office is to protect the interests of the state and to conserve resources. […] Until now there will be a witness. […] It will be established later if the Congress has misused state resources for personal purpose,” he said.

At the parliamentary level, the Ethics Commission was supposed to hear a formal complaint against Espinosa last Monday, but did not meet due to lack of quorum.